Study: Unemployment hits blacks harder

African Americans are more likely to be unemployed long-term and less likely to get unemployment insurance benefits, according to a study out today by the Urban Institute.

Margaret Simms, an Institute fellow and the director of the Low-Income Working Families project, said: "African Americans are at a confluence of factors leading to low UI recipiency: low levels of education, concentration in occupations or industries where workers are less likely to be covered, and short tenure on jobs. This means many low-wage unemployed black workers are likely suffering more economic hardship than their white counterparts."